By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace. Hebrews 11:31

Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? James 2:25

We're all familiar with the story of Rahab, who received the Israelite spies before their conquest of Jericho, hid them, and protected them from her leaders. Who would have expected to find God's grace in such a strange place as a harlot in Jericho? Notice from scripture that Rahab received the spies by faith. This means she was already born again prior to their arrival. Further, she justified herself by receiving them. That is, she declared herself righteous by her actions.

If there was ever a character in the Bible that ought to cause us to stop and take a step back before judging a random stranger's soul, it's Rahab. By her profession and location, many believers today would write her off as an unsaved heathen. But there she was, possessing faith and declaring herself righteous to the strangers of Israel by the things she did for them.

Rahab is a wonderful picture of God's grace. For starters, she was a sinner. So are you! But also, God, in His sovereignty, had saved her all by Himself. Guess what? All of God's children are just like her! That is, we are unworthy sinners who are the beneficiaries of God's mercy and grace.